Related

The Americans decisively won their first three preliminary-round contests against the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Germany.

However, a 3-2 loss to Canada on Tuesday dropped them to second place in a Group A and forced them to play the Russians in the quarter-final rather than Switzerland.

“The Canada game was a heartbreaker,” said American goaltender Jon Gillies, another returnee, who made 20 saves in the loss. “In terms of who we drew, we knew it was going to be a tough road no matter what team we had to go through.

“Unfortunately our road ended a little short.”

The Americans went 2-2 in the round robin last year, but stormed through the medal round to win gold.

Barber said after the loss to Canada that that was the plan again in 2014. It didn’t happen. The biggest reason why?

“We took penalties at bad times,” he said.

Leading 3-2, Americans Stefan Matteau and Tommy DiPauli took back-to-back minors, allowing Russia to go on a two-man advantage.

Off the ensuing faceoff, American blue-liner Steven Santini shot the puck over the glass behind the Russian net and was called for delaying the game.

Zadorov, who started the season with the Buffalo Sabres, scored again on a five-on-three.

The goals by the defenceman were almost identical, from the right point. They came 1:01 apart.

I’m not going to go there. I think we all understand how the game is officiated at this level

“You give that team a double five-on-three and they’re going to burn you with how skilled they are,” Gillies said. “They’re going to make you pay sooner than later.”
Russia’s power play was effective on 47% of its chances entering the game. It went 2-for-6 on Thursday thanks to the pair of two-man advantages.

“I’m not going to go there,” American head coach Don Lucia said when asked about the calls. “I think we all understand how the game is officiated at this level.”
Russian goalie Andrei Vasilevski allowed three goals in the first period.

Matteau, Hartman and Nic Kerdiles had the American goals.

But it was his save early in the second that kept the Americans from potentially breaking the game open.

The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect kicked out his right pad to stone winger Ryan Hartman on a three-on-one rush.

It was the biggest of his 30 saves as the Americans were leading 3-2 at the time.

Mikhail Grigorenko opened the scoring for Russia. Pavel Buchnevich also had two goals, his second into an empty net with 28.9 seconds left.